Movies | Book Chatter

Anyone with young kids knows how hard it is to see a first run movie. The movies that I end up seeing in a theatre are usually G rated or educational such as the latest IMAX show at the museum. I am dying to see Mama Mia but that is a story for another time.

The other day I recorded Brokeback Mountain. I just love my DVR. I know, I know.. the movie debuted way back in 2005 but it wasn’t a kid movie and not a movie my husband would be interested in (so I thought), so I never ordered it from Netflix. Well, after recording it last week I have been watchng it in bits and pieces. I know, stolen moments between Spongebob and Phineas & Ferb. I have to say, I am riveted by the storyline and the cinematography is just beautiful. It’s directed by Ang Lee and stars the late Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal. The movie is based on the short story of the same name that can be found in Close Range: Wyoming Stories, by Annie Proulx.

Here is the synopsis from IMDb:

In 1963, two young men hire on as ranch hands in the Wyoming mountains. During the long months of isolation,an unusual bond starts to develop between them, one which they are only vaguely aware of–until one night when it rises to the surface in a passionate encounter. When the season ends,they part ways,only to realize the true depth of their feelings. Thus begins a decades-long affair that the two of them desperately try to hide from those around them–one which will prove simultaneously beautiful and devastating.

It’s a subject matter that is not normally touched on via the big screen, especially with two very established actors but if you are looking for a movie that will sweep you away… check it out. Seeing the movie makes me want to read the short story now.

At my book group the other night, one of the members handed me Perfume, by Patrick Suskind. Well..she sort of pushed it towards me and said “Read this!”. She was laughing which pretty much told me that it was going to be really bizarre. The book was published in the 80’s and I have seen it make the rounds a few times but never thought much of it. Even with all the books in my pile calling my name, I plunged into it without a second thought. Where’s that second thought when you need it?

Here is the blurb from the book cover:

In the slums of 18th-century Paris a baby is born. Jean-Baptiste Grenouille clings to life with an iron will, growing into a dark and sinister young man who, although has no scent of his own, possesses an incomparable sense of smell. He apprentices himself to a perfumer and quickly masters the ancient art of mixing flowers, herbs and oils. But his quest to create the “ultimate perfume” leads him to commit a series of brutal murders until no woman can feel safe as his final horrifying secret is revealed.

This book is filled with scents and the author does an admirable job of describing what Grenouille is experiencing. Sometimes the descriptive passages are almost too real, “From the lid of a sardine can that stood at the back of the shop, he scratched off a rancid, fishy something-or-other, mixed it with rotten egg and castoreum, ammonia, nutmeg, horse shavings, and singed pork rind finely ground”.

My first reaction to Grenouille is one of disgust. Living in his body, smelling what he smells would be a vile prospect. I do believe the author succeeded in depicting Grenouille as a monster. I could picture him in my mind, slinking into dark corners and drawing people’s scent within him without those around him knowing.

Perfumes’ creepiness and descriptive passages kept me turning the pages even though the main character was not one I could relate to. It’s not suspenseful in the way many murder stories are, but the premise is interesting and there is a movie out that is based on the book with some pretty big names in it. I’d be interested to see how this story plays out as a movie. If you have read the book or seen the movie.. what did you think of them/it?

Chatting with friends about books and life…